For your safety

When I moved off campus following freshman year I was well aware of the dangers associated with living in Albany’s “student ghetto.” For years the area has been known for numerous crimes which happen to target the student community. Despite this fact, I still made the decision to move off campus into Albany’s highly populated student area, well aware that one day I might become a target of one of these crimes.

Break-ins, fights and robberies are just some of the incidents we find ourselves commonly exposed to as students living in a poorly monitored and dangerous neighborhood. In the most tragic of scenarios it is not unusual to hear about more serious incidents involving a student’s rape or murder.

I remember during the Fall semester of my sophomore year, my first semester living off campus, that Richard Bailey was murdered. The news of this tragedy echoed through the minds and hearts of every single UAlbany student as well as the residents of Albany. It served as a reminder that nobody is safe from the dangers of this world.

It is now 2011 and I intend to share an incident that occurred just the other night. I hope it can also serve as a reminder.

For my family and anyone who might be easily disturbed, I suggest skipping the incident that I’m about to detail as it is somewhat graphic and could make you uneasy.

At about 3AM on Saturday the 29th, my girlfriend and I fell victim to an armed robbery on State Street between Ontario and Quail.

Following a night of socializing with her friends at a local college bar, I received a phone call and she told me that she was about to leave. We had made plans to hangout at my apartment with some friends before calling it a night. Rather than having her walk alone, I made the decision to meet with her so that we could walk back together.

Staying on the phone with each other until we finally met, it seemed like a regular weekend night in Albany. Hundreds of students were out roaming the streets, many on their way home from bars and house parties. On this particular night I decidedly did not partake in the usual college drinking activities and because of this I was alert, aware and cautious.

As we made our way back to my apartment walking down State Street, a sense of danger came over me. Realizing that the street was now empty, I found myself eager to get us home as quickly as possible.

When we were less than halfway down the block, I noticed heavy footsteps in the distance. I looked back and saw two men walking behind us at about 50 feet away. I quickly grew uncomfortable, and decided to keep an eye on them. Every few feet that we walked, I took the opportunity to look back and assess the situation. I began to realize that the two men were quickly gaining on us.

With nobody around and the closest “safe place” being a convenience store about five apartments away and around the corner, my girlfriend and I were left to deal with the situation on our own. My only hope was that we made it to the store before anything could happen.

When I looked back for the last time, I noticed the two men had were closing in. Considering the possibility that the two men were only trying to pass, I remained aware while attempting to move my girlfriend and myself aside to let them by. With only about a distance of about 10 feet between us, I imagine they realized my awareness and decided to act quickly.

In a matter of seconds the two men lunged toward us and I immediately found myself on the defensive. As one of the men reached for my girlfriend I made an instinctual move to knock his arm away.

It was in this moment, as I smacked his hand away, that I found myself staring down the barrel of a gun. My eyes met the attacker’s and in those eyes all I could see was immense fear and anger. Understanding that we were outmatched, the only option we had left was to comply.

With a gun to my face, the second attacker was ordered to take hold of me. He circled in behind me and proceeded to place me in a choke hold. I then watched as the gunman put his weapon to the back of my girlfriend’s head and verbally threaten her life. If we had put up any kind of resistance we would have been shot right there in the street.

It was a sight and experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. The life of someone that I love and care for became my direct responsibility and I will never be able to express the thoughts that were racing through my mind in those few short moments.

After the two men took off with all they could get (approximately $30), I called the police. Shortly after that call ended, the police arrived on scene. What came next was an arduous morning at an Albany police station providing officers with statements and information. I have to commend the officers that took care us. Of course, they took the matter very seriously, but they also made an effort to ensure our comfort.

Needless to say, we were both upset and shocked. We have since recovered from the incident and are back to our normal routines. It will never be understood how lucky we were. We came out of that situation without being harmed or even worse… killed.

As a plea to all students, I am writing this post as means to express the reality these kind of situations. They do happen, and they happen all too frequently. Keep in mind that it is not in my interest to scare anyone, I just hope that what I have written will make you aware how dangerous this world can be.

Please look out for each other and keep safe!

Dan V

5 Responses

Oh man that’s crazy! It’s not any better over the river in Troy, either. Girls from my school (Russell Sage) have had their purses snatched from them and even had credit cards taken from out of their back pockets. Glad you and your girlfriend are safe!!

Thank goodness you’re both okay. People don’t realize how dangerous that area is, especially at night, and especially when under the influence of alcohol when one isn’t completely aware of their surroundings. This is why I never really liked to go downtown with friends at night, and I think that girls have to be even more careful.

You did exactly the right thing. Never fight a thief, all to often that is where the tragedy kicks in. A robbery is an unfortunate incident. Give up the cash and keep it from escalating into a tragedy. You’re girlfriend is very lucky you are intelligent & care enough to make sure she didn’t walk home alone.

Thank God you are ok and hopefully others will learn from what you have written. To tell them that students ARE being targeted by these groups and the danger is real and it is very cool of you to share your story. …maybe Richard Bailey helped save you both this weekend…because of the sentencing of the men who killed him-maybe they thought twice about the consequences …so happy you are both ok

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